The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that new research shows an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients treated with a class of drugs called incretin mimetics. These findings were based on FDA research on pancreatic tissues taken from diabetic patients that took incretin mimetics and died for unknown reasons. Drugs in the incretin mimetic class include: Exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon) Liraglutide (Victoza) Sitagliptin (Januvia) These drugs work by imitating incretin hormones that the body normally produces to rouse the release of insulin after eating a meal. Incretin mimetics are used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in those with Type 2 diabetes. This research was executed to inform the public that the FDA intends on investigating these new findings. The FDA will release its final conclusions about incretin mimetics when the research is finalized. What to Do if You Have Taken a Dangerous or…Read More »

Ankle monitors used to track convicts were replaced by California officials last year because they were found to be defective. Parole agents that tested the devices found issues varying from incorrect location to unresponsive tampering alarms. Police decided that the public was in immediate danger. The replacement was ordered after officials field tested the GPS monitors, which are used by over 4,000 convicts. The company that made the device, 3M Co., was vying for a contract with the state of California that was valued at over $51 million. 3M’s bid was rejected after the flaws were discovered in the devices, even though the company fervently denied the claims. Addressing and Fixing the Problem This year, Californian officials ordered parole agents to remove every 3M ankle monitor from Los Angeles to Oregon and replace them with new devices. In some cases, sex offenders could have been able to tamper with the…Read More »

Around 9:15 p.m. on April 1, a driver distracted by her GPS crashed and died on California State Route 1 near the neighborhood of Carmet. Passengers in the Honda Accord told police the driver had been using the GPS on her phone and was distracted when she drove onto a curve. The vehicle went off the roadway, flipped over and landed in a culvert. The three passengers in the vehicle sustained minor injuries. The driver died at the scene. The identities of the driver and the passengers have not been released, but police say all four parties were residents of Sonoma. Alcohol was a possible factor in the collision, and police are still investigating. Distracted Driving Epidemic There are three types of distracted driving: Visual: eyes diverted from the road Manual: hands off the steering wheel Cognitive: thinking about something other than driving The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has…Read More »